Mandarin Quest Learn it. Live it.
Pinyin is hidden by your learning preference.
← Path

Lesson 12

Question words & glue particles

Ask any question and connect ideas with the small but crucial particles.

📚 New vocabulary · 10

什么
shénme
what
shéi
who
怎么
zěnme
how, why
怎么样
zěnmeyàng
how about, how is
ma
yes/no question particle
ne
follow-up question particle
de
possessive / attributive particle
le
aspect / change-of-state particle
and, with
汉语
hàn
Chinese (language)

💡 Grammar note

吗 turns any statement into a yes/no question: 你 喝 茶 吗? Question words like 什么 / 谁 go where the answer would: 你 叫 什么? — no inversion. 的 marks possession: 我 的 书 = 'my book'. 了 marks completion or change of state.

🏋️ Quick practice

10 mixed questions: pinyin → meaning, character → meaning, listening, English → character, and fill-in sentences.

Question 1 / 10 0 correct so far

🏋️ More practice

Open the full exercises page scoped to just this lesson's vocabulary — all three vocab-based modes (pinyin → meaning, listen → recognise, match) using only the 10 words you just learned.

🎓 Full lecture practice

The full workout, broken into stages. We split this lesson's vocabulary into small sub-groups and run a short drill for each — easier to absorb than 20 mixed questions in a row. Then the final stage mixes every type: pinyin → meaning, character → meaning, listening, English → character, fill the blank, English → 中 builder, word order, and tone identification. Includes a 🎤 pronunciation challenge when your mic + Whisper are available.

Ready to move on?

Demonstrate the lesson first: score 70% or higher in Quick practice or Full lecture, then mark it complete.

Next: Story 4 — 猫在哪儿? →
No demonstrated score yet.
← Animals, places, where you live